Inmate players eye global stage after African success
Eight of Namibia’s top inmate chess players finished fifth at the Second Continental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, held recently under the International Chess Federation’s (Fide) Chess for Freedom initiative.
The event featured 17 teams from seven countries, with some countries fielding more than one team, battling it out in a one-day, seven-round Swiss-system format at the Namibian Correctional Service’s (NCS) Windhoek Correctional Facility.
The players were selected following trials held by the NCS in the capital on 2 May.
The team recorded four wins and three defeats, with their fifth-place finish securing Namibia a spot at the International Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, set for October.
In the first round, Namibia went down 2½ - 1½ to Ghana, but picked up momentum in the following rounds, beating Kenya (W) 4 - 0, Nigeria (Y) 3 - 1, Malawi 2 (Y) 4 - 0 and Malawi 1 3 - 1.
Namibia suffered defeats to Zimbabwe 4 - 0 and Ghana 1 (Y) 3 - 1.
The championship was won by Zimbabwe, who dominated the event with a perfect 7/7 score, followed by Ghana 1 (Y) and Ghana in second and third place, respectively. Malawi 1 finished fourth.
Reflecting on the event, chief correctional officer and NCS chess coordinator Kievido Tjimune said the Namibian players demonstrated resilience and competitive spirit at the championship.
“[This event and the achievement] show that rehabilitation is alive and working. Our inmates are not forgotten. They are being prepared for useful citizenship upon their release into society,” he said.
“Correctional facilities can be places of growth, discipline and national pride.”
Inclusion of women players
Tjimune further noted that, looking ahead, the NCS aims to expand participation to include female inmates at the next continental showpiece.
“With hard work and consistent lessons, female inmates can also compete internationally. Our immediate focus now is preparing intensively for the international championship, where Namibia will stand alongside teams globally,” he remarked.
The NCS indicated that the initiative extends far beyond prison walls, offering inmates dignity, discipline and a renewed sense of purpose.
“Chess is a powerful rehabilitative tool, fostering critical thinking, patience and impulse control, which are skills essential for reintegration into society. The event also strengthened inmate-officer relations, which are essential for progressive correctional practices.”
Reflecting on the event, one of the inmates, whose name could not be revealed due to security reasons, said he was at a loss for words over what the competition meant to him.
“For years, I felt ashamed of my crime, of my uniform and what I had done to my family. But when I sat in front of the chessboard and saw ‘Namibia’, I stood taller,” he said.
‘I want to be a champion in life’
He said the experience made him realise that he is still a Namibian and that the flag does not forget him.
“Representing the NCS and my country gave me a purpose I thought I had lost forever. It made me realise that I am no longer [just] an inmate but an athlete and a Namibian chess ambassador. Every move I made, I made for Namibia,” he recounted.
Regarding what chess has taught him, he highlighted the importance of pausing before acting, noting that in the past, he reacted with anger and made quick, poor decisions.
“In chess, if you rush, you lose. You have to think ahead, accept losses and learn from mistakes. That is exactly how I want to live my life outside. To move slowly, thoughtfully and with respect for the consequences. I want to be a champion, not just in chess, but in life.”
